Wallboard taping machine



April 10, 1956 Filed Aug. 15, 1955 D. J. BELISLE WALLBOARD TAPINGMACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Delmar J Bell's/e IN V EN TOR.

April 10, 1956 D. J. BELiSLE 2,741,220

WALLBOARD TAPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Delmar J.Bel/isle INVENTOR.

United The present invention relates to taping machines, and moreparticularly relates to a portable taping machine constructed to applycement to a building tape while applying the tape to the joint betweenwallboards and the like utilized particularly in building construction.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a taping tool in whichboth the tape roll and the adhesive to be applied to the roll as thetape is dispensed from the tool are disposed within a common housing toprovide an extremely compact unit that can be easily loaded andunloaded.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable tapingmachine in which the tape and the joint cement to be applied to the tapeare inserted in a common opening in the housing, with means foradjusting the tape roll within the housing to lower the tape roll as thecement is depleted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a taping machineincluding a novel dispensing construction, including a means forpositively controlling the thickness of the cement deposited on thebottom of the tape as the same is dispensed from the housing.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a tapingmachine including a guide means for the tape strip as it is dispensedfrom the housing which urges the tape strip into contact with the cementWithin the housing and which prevents withdrawal of the tape strip backinto the housing.

A final object of the invention to be mentioned specifically is a tapingtool including a novel pressing and cutting means for pressing the tapeinto engagement with the wallboards and cutting the tape at the end ofthe joint.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompartying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the taping machine constitutingthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the taping machine;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the taping machine takensubstantially along the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tape guiding andretaining means, taken substantially along section line 4-4 of Figure 3;and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tape roll mounting means takensubstantially along section line 55 of Figure 3.

The taping machine is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10.

The machine 16 is in the form of an enclosed housing in the form of adrum 12 having a tubular extension 14 extending therefrom. A closureplate 16 conforming to the circumferential curve of the drum 12removably covers an opening 18 through the side wall 20 of the tatesatent ice drum. This opening 18 serves as an opening for inserting theroll of tape 22 into the drum.

A mounting means 24 is carried by the side walls 26 of the drum toadjustably mount the tape roll or spool 22 within the drum housing.

The mounting means 24 comprises an elongated bolt 28 extending throughthe drum and having its ends disposed in vertical slots 38 which are inaligned relation with one another in the end walls 26 of the drum 12. Toform the slots 30, tabs 32 are struck out of the material forming theend walls 26 and folded in overlapping relation to the exterior surfacesof these end walls. Thus, the tabs serve as reinforcing portions aroundthe slots to rigidity the mountings of the ends of the bolt 28 to theseend walls. Enlarged washers 34 are provided at the head end and at thethreaded end of the bolt 28 and upon tightening of the nut 36 on thethreaded end of the bolt 28, the washers 38 are drawn tightly againstthe tabs 32 to hold the bolt in any selected adjusted position.

The interior of the drum is considerably Wider than the width of thetape roll, and to center the roll of tape within the drum, a pair ofmating sleeves 38 are provided which extend through the central apertureor opening of the tape roll and meet within the roll in end-to-endabutment. Intermediate the ends of each of the mating sleeves 38, anenlarged disk 40 is provided to bear against the side of the roll oftape 22. These flanges or disks 40 form spool guides for the roll oftape 22 and center th same within the drum 12.

To insert the tape, the sleeves 38 are first placed upon the roll 22with the flanges 40 abutting opposite sides of the tape roll. Then, thisassembly is placed within the drum 12 through the opening 13, and thefastener 28 is passed through the sleeves 3S and the fastener 36 securedin place.

The tubular extension 14 is formed simply as an extension of the sideWall 24 of the drum 12 which forms the top Wall 41 and the bottom Wall42 of the extension. Side walls 44 are provided for the extension andare formed integrally with the drum walls 26. An end wall 46 is formedto close the free end of the tubular extension 14. A slot 48 is formedin the end Wall 46 to provide a dispensing orifice through which the endof the tape strip passes.

The top wall 41 of the extension 14 is provided with an opening 50 whichis closed by a removable cover 52 suitably sealed around the edges ofthe opening 50, as at 54.

Thus, when the tape 22 is inserted through the opening 18 in the drum12, the end of the tape is then brought into the tubular extension 14,the cover 52 removed, and the end of the tape guided through thedispensing orifice 48.

After guiding the end of the tape strip through the dispensing orifice48, the cover 52 is replaced over the opening 50.

To guide the tape through the extension 14, the undersurface of thecover 15 is provided with a pair of downturned tabs 56 on which isjournaled the bar or rod 53. A tape retainer plate is swingably mountedon the rod 58 and has a serrated lower edge 62. The resilient coilspring 64 interconnects an intermediate portion of the retainer plate6t) with the undersurface of the cover 52 to continually bias the plate60 toward the drum 12 of the housing. As shown, the length of the plate60 is somewhat greater than the height of the side walls of theextension 14 so that the plate 60 will constantly remain at an upwardlyinclined angle from the dispensing orifice 48 in the end wall 46 of thetubular extension 14. Thus, as the tape 22 is pulled through thedispensing orifice, little resistance to this pulling movement isoffered by the plate 60, this plate serving only to press 'next jointline.

3 the tape toward the bottom 42 of the tubular extension. However, whenthe tape is moved to be retracted back into the housing, the serratededge 62 of the plate 60 contacts the upper surface of the tape andprevents such movement. j

Mounted on the end wall 46 of the extension 14 above the dispensingorifice 48 is an outwardly projecting pressing plate 64 which projectsoutwardly and upwardly away from the end 46 of the taping machine 10. Anupwardly bridge the joint therebetween. Cut 'back or notched centraledge 68 of the lip 66 cuts the tape by a slight twisting movement of thetaping machine 10 when the end of the joint is reached. Legs 70 abut theend wall 46 on opposite sides of the dispensing orifice 48 and at thejuncture of the plate 64 to the end wall 46, the same is centrallyrecessed as at 72 (see Figure 2).

A slide 74 is guidingly received in the recessed portion 72 formedbetween the edge of the plate 64 and the end wall 46. The slide 74 isvertically movable'along the end wall 46 to vary the size of the'slottoward dispensing 7 7 In the ope'rationof the device, after the taperoll 22 .is inserted in the opening 18, and the end of the tape drawnthrough the dispensing orifice 48 so that the tape is in operatingposition, a quantity of adhesive in the form of joint cement or paste ispounded into the drum 12 through the opening 18 and the cover 16 thenreplaced. Since the drum housing is considerably larger than the taperoll, the cement may substantially envelop the tape within the tubularextension 14 and the lower portion of the drum. Thus, as the tape ispulled through the dispensing orifice 43, the surfaces thereof will becoated with adhesive by the tension retained on this tape as it passesthrough the tubular extension by the retaining plate 60. To control theamount of cement that will be subsequently on the tape strip as it isdispensed through the orifice 48, the slide 74 may adjust to scrape therequisite amount off the tape as it passes through the opening 48.

e and moves the taper along the line or joint the length or height ofthe wall or ceiling while pressing the prepared tape .smooth with thepresser head 66. At the end of 'the wall or joint, the operator cuts thetape by giving the taping machine a twist, and he is then ready for theFrom the foregoing, the construction and operation of V the device willbe readily understood and further explanation is believed to 'beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes'willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A taping machine comprising-a closed housing for retaining a roll oftape and'a quantity of adhesive paste therein, a removable cover on saidhousing for inserting the tape and paste, mounting means carried by thehousing and extending thereinto for rotatably securing the tape withinthe housing, guide means resiliently mounted within the housing forurging the tape toward the bottom of the housing and guiding the sametherethrough, said housing having a dispensing orifice for dispensingthe tape therefrom, and an adjustable slide carried by said housingadjacent said dispensing orifice for varying the size of the orifice.

2. A taping machine comprising a closed container including a drumhaving an elongated, tubular extension thereon, a removable closure onsaid drum for. inserting a roll of tape'and a quantity'of cementtherein, said tubular extension having a closed end with a slot thereinfor dispensing tape from the housing, guide means within said tubularextension for guiding tape therethrough, an adjustable slide on, saidextension partially covering said slot to vary the size of the slot.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said extension has an openingtherein for threading the tape through the dispensing slot, a coverclosing said opening.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said extension has an openingtherein for threading the tape through the dispensing slot, a coverclosing said opening, said guide means being resiliently mounted on saidcover and including an inclined plate having one edge for engaging thetape.

5. A taping machine comprising a closed container including a drumhaving an elongated, tubular extension thereon, a removable closure onsaid drum for inserting a roll of tape and a quantity of cement therein,said tubular extension having a closed end with a-slot therein fordispensing tape from the housing, guide means within said tubularextension for guiding tape therethrough.

. 6. A taping machine comprising a closed container in cluding a drumhaving an elongated, tubular extension thereon, a removable closure onsaid drum for inserting a roll of tape and a quantity of cement therein,said tubular extensionhaving a closed end with a slot therein fordispensing tape from the housing, guide means within said tubularextension for guiding tape therethrough, said guide means including aretainer plate having one edge thereof adapted to engage the tape, saidplate being swingably suspended within said tubular extension andangularly inclined toward the closed end thereof, the free edge of saidplate engaging the tape and preventing movement of the same toward saiddrum. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED, STATES PATENTS:

